A passerby holds his crutch and the wedding invitation he is carrying in the air to show to riot police that he is not a protester, as he tries to escape from a cloud of tear gas fired by police at opposition supporters protesting over the upcoming elections, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Monday, Oct. 16, 2017. Two international human rights groups said Monday that Kenya's police in August attacked opposition supporters killing dozens and injuring scores following demonstrations protesting President Uhuru Kenyatta's subsequently annulled re-election. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

A passerby stumbles to the ground as she and opposition supporters, protesting over the upcoming elections, run for safety amid a cloud of tear gas fired by riot police in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Monday, Oct. 16, 2017. Two international human rights groups said Monday that Kenya's police in August attacked opposition supporters killing dozens and injuring scores following demonstrations protesting President Uhuru Kenyatta's subsequently annulled re-election. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Kenya police killed 67 opposition supporters: Rights groups

By TOM ODULA

Oct. 16, 2017

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya police shot dead a street vendor as opposition supporters held demonstrations calling for electoral reform, a senior police official said Monday, while human rights groups said police had killed dozens of people who protested after August's now-annulled presidential election.

The government last week banned opposition protests in the business districts of Kenya's three largest cities, but they have continued. Police on Monday prevented protesters from entering Nairobi's central business district. The street vendor was shot dead in the western city of Kisumu. The senior police official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.

"The police came and beat him with sticks badly and then they came and shot him at close range in the back," protester Jackson Juma told The Associated Press.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said as many as 67 people died across the East African nation after President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election was announced. The Supreme Court later nullified the vote, citing irregularities, and a new election is Oct. 26.

Researchers from the two groups interviewed 151 victims, witnesses, police and others in Nairobi's low-income areas known to be opposition strongholds. People said police pursued them, kicking down doors and shooting and beating some to death.

The report said security agents carried out operations in Mathare, Kibera, Babadogo, Dandora, Korogocho, Kariobangi and Kawangware slums between Aug. 9 and 13.

"This deadly use of excessive force has become a hallmark of police operations in Kenya and must be decisively stopped before the next election takes place," said Michelle Kagari, a deputy regional director with Amnesty International.

National police spokesman George Kinoti rejected the report, describing it as "sensational" and based on "falsehoods."

Opposition leader Raila Odinga, whose legal challenge of vote-rigging had led the court to nullify the election, later withdrew his candidacy for the new vote. He said his calls for reforms of the electoral commission have been ignored, and he called for supporters to hold daily protests this week.